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In the first weeks of August, gas prices have been dropping in many parts of California. However, according to the latest report from AAA Northern California, which tracks gas prices as a service to consumers, many of the monthly gas pump price comparisons show slight increases.
According to AAA, all but eight Northern California metro areas tracked by the organization saw an increase at the pump over the past month.
The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.78, which is unchanged since last month’s AAA report on July 12. For perspective, that’s 61 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year.
Among all 50 states, California is tied with Maine for the eighth highest state average price for regular, unleaded gasoline. Hawaii is first and Connecticut is second. Both are the only states with averages over four dollars.
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.79, up two cents from last month.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.88, which is a 2-cent increase. The national average price of $3.65 is up by one cent, which is 88 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $2.77.
“Investor activity is a major factor that drives oil prices. Their recent uncertainly about the strength of the oil market is helping to push oil prices down and gas prices are following,” explained AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “Consumer relief at the pump often lags behind any declines in crude prices, as cheaper oil works its way through the refining and distribution process.”
Relatively weak demand for gasoline across the nation is also helping to push pump prices lower. Demand is one of many factors that influence investors’ buying behavior.
As demand drops, oil and gas become less attractive investments, so buying slows and the per barrel oil price and the gasoline pump price drop.
Currently, weak U.S. and Chinese manufacturing data are also tempering investors’ enthusiasm for buying.
Although more positive than expected jobs figures helped to balance out this perception late last week, an unprecedented downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by Standard & Poor’s on Friday sent global markets tumbling at the open of trading yesterday.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville where regular is $3.64. Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Yreka’s average price of $4 is the highest.
Bridgeport, Connecticut, has the highest price in the lower 48 states at $4.11. The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Peoria, Arizona, where the average price of gas is $3.26.
Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $4.39 per gallon.
One way consumers can reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel is to shop aggressively for the lowest price. AAA now offers text alerts via mobile phone for low gas prices in your area. Sign up today at www.aaa.com/gas.
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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Tuesday issued a proposed rule to establish general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate when animal disease events take place.
"Through the past two years, I have listened carefully to stakeholders throughout the country about how to reach effective animal disease traceability in a transparent manner without additional burden," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We are proposing a flexible approach in which states and tribes can develop systems for tracing animals that work best for them and for producers in their jurisdiction. This approach offers great flexibility at the state and local level and addresses gaps in our disease response efforts."
Under the proposed rule, unless specifically exempted, livestock moved interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation, such as owner-shipper statements or brand certificates.
The proposed rule encourages the use of low-cost technology and specifies approved forms of official identification for each species, such as metal eartags for cattle.
However, recognizing the importance and prevalence of other identifications in certain regions, shipping and receiving states or tribes are permitted to agree upon alternative forms of identification such as brands or tattoos.
"Our proposal strives to meet the diverse needs of the animal agriculture industry and our State and tribal partners, while also helping us all reach our goal of increased animal disease traceability," said chief veterinary officer for the United States, Dr. John Clifford. "We believe reaching our goals on traceability will help save the industry and American taxpayer's money in the long term."
Animal disease traceability, or knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they've been, and when, is very important to make sure there can be a rapid response when animal disease events take place.
An efficient and accurate animal disease traceability system helps reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduces the time needed to respond, and decreases the cost to producers and the government.
The notice was published in the Aug. 11 Federal Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Nov. 9. You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0091.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0091, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2009-0091 or in the reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.
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"While July's revenues performed remarkably similar to last year's, they still did not meet the budget's projections," said Chiang. "While we hope for better news in the months ahead, every drop in revenues puts us closer to the drastic trigger cuts that could be imposed next year."
Income taxes were above projections by $89 million (2.9 percent) in July. But sales taxes were down $139.4 million (-12.5 percent), and corporate taxes were down $69.5 million (-19.3 percent) in the same month.
The state faced an $11.1 billion cash deficit on July 31. That deficit was covered by internal borrowing, or short-term loans from special funds, along with external borrowing.
For more details, read July 2011's financial statement, http://sco.ca.gov/ard_state_cash_fy1112.html, and summary analysis, http://sco.ca.gov/ard_state_cash_summaries.html.
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The branch promotes the environmentally safe handling and sound use of fertilizer material through oversight and research.
Six vacancies are available on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board.
The board oversees the department’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program which works to ensure that consumer fertilizing materials are safe, effective and meet the quality guaranteed by the manufacturer.
Applicants should hold a current California Fertilizing Materials License or be a representative of a licensed firm.
Seven vacancies are available on the Fertilizer Research and Education Program’s Technical Advisory Subcommittee. This subcommittee reviews and recommends fertilizer research and education projects for funding and implementation to the department’s Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board.
Subcommittee applicants must demonstrate knowledge, technical and scientific expertise in the fields of fertilizing materials, agronomy, plant physiology, production agriculture, principles of experimental research, and environmental issues related to fertilizer material use.
The term of office for advisory board and subcommittee members is three years and members receive no compensation but are entitled to payment of necessary travel expenses. The advisory board and subcommittee are funded entirely through user fees and assessments.
The application deadline is Aug. 22.
Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment should sent a brief resume to Maria Hicks, California Department of Food and Agriculture - FFLDRS Branch, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814 or via e-mail at